Planoqraph co



J'. A. F. ASPINALL. PROTECTED THIRD RA IL.' APPL'ICATION msu' JULY 24.1914.

Patented July 22, 1919.

3 SHEETS SHEET I. 4

III 1 I I I I I III Ill/ I I 1 11 111 1111 11 111 THE COLUMBIAPLANOHRAPH co., WASHINGTON. D. c.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2 Patented July 22-, 1919.

IFII--- i.-. QM. xv hmuuu 3 1. A. F. ASPINALL- PROTECTED THIRD RAIL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24,1914- J. A. F; ASPINALL. PROTECTED THIRD RAIL.APPLICAUON FILED JULY '24. I914.

Patented July 22, 1919.

3 SMEETS-SHEET 3 JOHN A. F. ASPIN'ALL, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

PROTECTED THIRD RAIL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22, 1919.

Application filed July 24, 1914. Serial No. 852,885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN AUDLEY F RED- ERIC-K AsrrNALL, of Liverpool, inthe county of Lancaster, in the Kingdom of England, engineer, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Protected Third Rails,of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improvedithird rail. for electriccurrent collection particularly applicable toelectric traction purposessuch as electric railways, tramways and the like reference being made tothe applicants divisional application No. 256,255 filed September 30,1918 showing and claiming the collector disclosed in this application. p

According to the present invention current is collected from the side ofone or more flanges of a flanged conductor rail in contradistinction tohitherto known methods of collection on the web, upper or under surfacesof the head of a conductor rail.

The rail is preferably of such a crosssection that its center of gravitylies so low that normal current collecting pressure upon the side of oneof its flanges will not overturn it about its base even when its rail isnot secured to the track.

The flange of the conductor rail which cooperates with the collector orcontact shoe is preferably thickened to allowfor wear of the rail.

The present invention will be more particularly described with referenceto the preferred forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a sectional elevation through part of the track andcurrent collecting means.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the collecting shoe and supportingbracket.

Fig. 3 is an end sectional view of a modifi cation. I

Fig. 4 is a plan view partly in section of a modification.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a ramp portion of the track.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of an insulator and cap.

Fig. 7 is a plan view.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modification.

Fig. 9 is an end view corresponding to Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a sectional end view of a modified form of rail.

The preferred form of rail is of channel section having a base flange 1preferably broader than the head flange 2, but the flange head 2 is ofgreater depth or thickness than the base flange 1.

By providing a broad base flange 1 it is secured that the center ofgravity of the rail is lowered to the degree desired. he bearing surface3 is preferably vertical as in Figs. 1, 6, and 9, but it can be incertain cases inclined inward toward the web 4c from the head of therail (see Fig. 3).

In one form of construction as shown in Fig. 3 a pair of substantiallychannel shaped collector rails 5 and 6 are laid together with the insideedges of their flanges adj acent one another.. In this preferred form itis then desirable to collect from the upper flanges 7 of the two railsand a single collector such as 28, Fig. 1, can be arranged to bear onboth these surfaces. u

It will be seen that by the preferred disposition of the center ofgravity of the rail these may be held in their supports without the useof clips, screws, nails or other usual means, although such may be usedif desired. It is preferred to secure the collector rail-s and theirguards such as 8 and 9 by means of bent metal detachable clips 10. Theseclips are preferably of channel section provided with specialdepressions for the reception of packing pieces of wood or the like, orlocking keys such as '11. These looking keys 11 are preferably duplicateand interchangeable with the locking keys 12 of usual form serving tosecure the vehicle supporting rails of the usual track 13 to the usualchairs 14 where used.

The insulators supporting the collector rails are preferably providedwith a central portion 15 having a depression to receive a wooden block46 for the reception of the rail, this portion being somewhat broaderthan the rail so that a space 16 is left between the rail and the guard9 forming an outlet for water, snow, or like matter which wouldotherwise at certain times form an obstruction. The insulator ispreferably provided with two side shoulders 17 18, for supporting theguards 9 and 8 respectively. The insulators have tapering bases 19 andcan be secured to the sleepers 20 by angle clips 21 engaging saidtapering sides 19. To simplify the track the sleepers 20 are arranged tomutually support the insulators '19 and the chairs 1 1 for the permanentway 3 or where chairs are not used for supporting the track, to supportthe rails directly. The electric conductor rails are preferablyconnected together by the usual bending and also by fish plates whichare preferably arranged in a substantially horizontal plane connectingthe lower flanges of the rail.

A packing or distance piece 22 (Fig. 1) is preferably arranged betweenthe web l of the conductor rails and the guard 9 arranged opposite theflanges of the conductor rails so that this guard 9 lies in spaceddisposition relatively thereto providing a vertical slot 23 for thepassage of the collector shoe 28. The distance piece 22 can be looselyinserted between the rail and guard and pieces of similar formation maybe used for fish plates or expansion joints secured by means of bolt andnuts 24- to rail flange 1. The conductor rail is preferably providedwith a recess portion 25 to receive one end of the bent metal distancepiece or strip 22 to prevent it rising.

As shown in Fig. 3 a distance piece which may be of wood in the case ofcollec tion from two rails will be arranged between the rails 5 and 6.

The guards S for the collector rails are preferably of L shapedcross-section and in certain cases it may be desirable to provide acurved or rabbetcd portion corresponding to-the curved portion of therail with which it would engage, and it can be beveled at the top edge.to allow greater clearance for the current collector. The guardprotecting the other side of the rail is preferably rectangular incross-section as shown in Fig. 1-.

In the case however of a double conductor rail shown in Fig. 3 the otherguard will similarly be of L-section. The guards are preferably of woodbearing directly on the rail. In certain cases, however, insulatingpacking pieces 26 could be interposed between guard and rail having ahigher dielectric strength.

The current collectoror shoe 2-8 is preferably of rectangular form(Figs. 2 and 4) It may take the form of a pivoted plate mounted oncylindrical trunnions 27 on a bracket 29 adjustable on a supportingplate 50 carried by the traction vehicle. The pivoted shoe 28 has pins41 passing through bearings 42 on the brackets 29 so that by withdrawingthe bolts 4-1 the shoe 28 will be readily detached from connection -withthe brackets 29 and other parts on the vehicle. The brackets 29 have atoothed inside surface 43 engaging with a coll Sponding surface on theplate 50 and are preferably pro vided with slots 44 which engage bolts4-5 so that the plate 29 can be locked in any desired adjusted position.The upper end of the pivoted plate 28 has a lug 30 to which theconductor leads 31 may be attached. A cup 32 is mounted by means of abolt 33 on the upper end of the pivoted shoe 28 to receive a spring 3%which lies between this cup and an oppositely disposed cup 35 carriedupon the vehicle. It will be seen that this spring 3% will tend toelastically press the lower end of the collector shoe 28 into sidecontact with the portion 3 of the conductor rails.

Where the conductor rails terminate at points or at a crossing, a ramp36 is provided or the conductor rail may taper toward the outside of thetrack, in the case of a double line toward the space between the tworunning tracks to form a suitable guide for the contact shoe 28approaching toward the end of the conductor rail. In the case in whichpressure of the contact shoe by means of the spring 34 is directedinward in a direction toward the corresponding running track, the guideor ramp 36 is made inclined in the direction of the correspondingrunning track. This is considered preferable as, itallows a greaterclearance in the space between a pair of running tracks. The rampportion 36 of the conductor rail can if desired be isolated or made adead length of rail by interposing a space between this rail and thenext length of conductor "ail 37, but the ramp and rail are preferablyarranged continuous to make the rail more stable at this point for thecollecting shoe to strike against when moving on to the ramp previous t0i'i'iovin'g on to the conductor rail parallel with the track. The spacewhere such is provided can be bridged over by an insulating block 38 ofwood or the liketo form a continuous path for the contact shoe. A guard39 is also provided for this ramp or guide rail. This is adapted to besupported near the end of the ramp by brackets or caps l7 carried on theinsulators of similar form to the normal third rail supportinginsulators above described. The caps 47 also support the guards thusallowing one type of insulator to be used for the conductor rail at allpoints; the guard is arranged to project some distance ahead of the railorrainp which it protects as at 40, and also prevents any current arcingfrom the rail or collecting shoe to the ordinary running rails.

i In order that a Standard insulator may be used for supporting the endof the ramprail a detachable metal cap such as 17 is provided (Figs. 5and 9) which has side cheeks a8 against which the guards 9 and 39 mayabut. This cap 47 slips over the top of the standard insulator used forsupportiug the third rails as above described.

To prevent any person accidentally entering the end of the ramp railbetween the outer end 40 of the main guard and the auxiliary guard 9parallel to the track, an auxiliary guard piece 49 is arrangedtransverse to the guards 39 and 9 across this open end which may be heldin place by the standard Clip 10 and'key 1'1. 1 1

1 In an alternativesection-to that described above therail may be ofgirder section or an inverted T-form with a thickened portion 81 on oneside (see Fig. 10) at the base of the web which will then be uppermostto form a contact surface cooperating with'the collector or contact shoewhich will bear on this side. 7

face of the rail 3; It will be seen that 'a' good contact will beobtained by this system in which the contact shoe bears on the side ofone of the rail flanges as the shoe will be held in contact with thecollecting surfaces irrespective of slight irregularities of the trackor other causes which would lift the collector shoe verticallyrelatively to the track.

The collector rail can be arranged either in the center of the track orupon the outside of the track, or a ain alternatively, in a double trackthe collector rails could be arranged between the two lines of rails.The improved supporting system of the present invention has theadvantage of a great saving in width so that particularly in the case inwhich the collector rails are arranged in the space between two runningtracks, greater space than heretofore is provided between thesecollector rails for plate layers or similar persons passing along thetrack in the performance of their duties.

In the simplest form of track of course the third rails will simply belaid upon the insulators. Such construction of track is illustrated inFig. 6 and shows an end view of a rail on an insulator in position. Therail 60 rests on a wooden block 61 carried by a recessed portion of theinsulator 62.

It is preferred to provide caps on the in sulators such as 63. The capis preferably formed of a piece of stamped metal having upstandingtongues 64 thereon adapted to engage either side of the lower flange ofthe conductor or third rail. This cap may be for instance the form shownin Fig. 7 held in place by lugs 65 on the insulator, or the form shownin Fig. 8 in which the cap is formed of one piece 66 fitting completelyover the insulator and provided with downwardly turned lips 67. Theupstanding lips 64 are preferably formed by punching out of the metalstrip so that there are spaces left in the center through which thewooden block 61 can project.

Instead of these caps it is possible to provide lugs on the woodencushions for the rails such as 68, Fig. 9.

Big consisting of two end boards 1 to whlch is hinged at 7 6 a flap 7 7is locked 1n position by any desired securing cover 77.

If desired the rail may be rolled with ribs Stopsmay be provided on thevehicle or brackets thereon to prevent undue movement of the collectingshoe so that it will be in convenient position to enter the ramp afterit has left a rail at points or the like.

The'guardS 8 and 9 are preferably provided with extension portions 70(Fig. 1)

'reachingbelow the bottom of the conductor rail.

It is. preferred toprovide a guard for the collector shoe and this mayconsist of a cas- (Fig. 1) which flap means such, forrinstance, as awing bolt and nut connection 7 8 engaging 1n slots 79 in the 80 on itsunder surface engaging the sides of the wooden block recessed in theinsulator (Fig. 10).

I declare that what I claim is 1. In a third rail system, a third railhaving a vertically disposed working side face, an insulator adaptedtobe secured to a sleeper, and having shoulders at its opposite sides,acushion between the shoulders upon which the rail loosely rests, aninner angle guard resting at its lower edge on one of said shoulderswith its upper horizontal member overlying the top surface of the rail,a second or outer guard resting at its lower edge on the other shoulderand from which the base of the rail is spaced to permit exit of water,etc., a clamp having ends one of which engages the outer side of theouter guard and the other of which extends up parallel with the innerguard, and a looking key between the inner guard and the adjacent end ofsaid clamp.

2. In a third rail system, a third rail having a vertically disposedworking side face and a web parallel thereto, an insulator having acushion on its upper face upon which said rail loosely rests; saidinsulator having shoulders at opposite sides of the rail, an angle guardresting at the lower edge of its vertical member upon the inner shoulderand extending at its upper horizontal memberacross the upper surface ofthe rail, a second outer guard resting at its lower edge upon the outershoulder, a drain space being formed between the rail and the outerguard, a spacing member between the Web of the rail and outer guard, andclam-ping means lrolding the two guards to the rail and insuator.

3. In a third rail system, a third rail having a vertical working sideface, an insulator adapted to be secured to a sleeper, a cap on saidinsulation supporting the third rail, shoulders on said cap, and guardsheld in spaced relationship by said shoulders.

at. In a third rail system a third rail having a, vertical working sideface, an insulation adapted to be secured to'a sleeper, a'cap fitting onsaidinsulator and havinga socket, a cushionin said socket supportingthethird rail, shoulders on said cap, and guards held in spacedrelationship by said shoulders.

5. In a-third rail system, a third rail having a Vertical working sideface, an insulator adapted to be securedto a sleeper, a cap on saidinsulator supporting the third rail shoulder-son said cap, an innerangleguard resting at its lower edge on one of said shoulders with itsupper horizontal member overlying the top surface of the rail, and asecond orouter guard resting at its lower edge on the other shoulder.

6. In a third rail system, a third rail having a vertical Working side'face, an insulator adapted to be secured to a sleeper, a cap on saidinsulatorsupporting the third rail, shoulders on said cap, guards, and abent metal spring clamp embracing the guards andrail to hold the saidguards against the shouldeis.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name this 11th day of July1914:, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN A. ASPINALL.

Witnesses:

HECTOR ARMSTRONG, JOHN J. LEARY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents -each,,byaddressing theflcommissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. '0.

